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Add These Season-Specific Chicago Foods to Your Summer Bucket List

Chicagoans squeeze out every last ounce of summer possible, but before you know it, some jerk in front of you at your favorite coffee shop is ordering a pumpkin spice latte. While we can’t prolong the warm weather, we can tell you what you absolutely must eat before it’s out of season. Our friends at Yelp Chicago have compiled a summer bucket list of foods to enjoy before fall sets in.

Sure, soup isn’t the first thing that comes to mind in this August heat, but don’t miss out on a seasonal favorite from this Old Town French bakery. Tomato-based, served cold, and topped with house-made croûtons, this gazpacho is one of the most refreshing dishes we ate all summer. 1547 N. Wells St., 815-518-2340

You can hardly find frozen custard, which is much creamier than ice cream, in Chicago. The silky-smooth stuff from Scooter’s is only available through December, so get it while it’s hot! 1658 W. Belmont Ave., 773-244-6415

It seems like about 20 different poké places opened up this summer. It’s pretty tough to choose one over the other, but in the spirit of a summer bucket list, we’ll go with Joy District. They incorporate an ice cream-based apparatus to serve the summer snack. 112 Hubbard St., 312-955-0339

Jibarito means “little yokel” and was invented in Chicago. If you’re going to get this hyper-local sandwich, which is made with fried green plantains instead of bread, you might as well go to its birthplace at Borinquen. 3811 N. Western Ave., 773-442-8001

Giant signature makis finally found their way to Chicago, and while the original En Hakkore caters to the Korean bibimbap crowd, their second location has cornered the market on sushi burritos in Wicker Park. While they don’t seem to be going anywhere once winter hits, you’ll regret not taking the opportunity to try one during this food-trend’s first summer. 1467 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-278-5959

For most of us, this superfood concoction is about as close to the Rio games as we’ll get. But don’t be mistaken: the Brazilian superfood combines frozen acai, blueberries, raspberries, banana, almond butter, and granola in a bowl for a healthy snack that’s as good as gold. 2878 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-880-5338

Danny Wurst is the Sr. Community Director for Yelp in Chicago. Helping businesses get the most out of the site is his passion. He also curates local events intended to spread positive word of mouth for the many local businesses that dot the Chicago culinary landscape. Follow @YelpChicago on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. And use the hashtag #YelpChicago when posting your food p0rn around the web.